Governor



W. M. WHITE.

GovERNoR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 15| 1917. RENEWED MAR. 8, 1920- 1,355,294:. Y Patented Oct. 12, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

i f 6 l- /8 /9 7 W. M. WHITE.

GOVERNOR. APPucATloN FILED SEPT. 15. 1911. RENEwED MAR. s. 1920.

1;:555,294. Patented oet. 12,

narran sra as 1 Wfl WILLIAM MONROE WHITE, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

eovEaNon.

Specieation of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 12, 1920.

Application filed September 15, 1917, Serial No. 191,890. Renewed March 8, 1920. Serial No. 364,311.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM MONROE WHrrn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of M11- waukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Governors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in speed governors for energy-translating machines. p

An object of the invention is to provide a speed governor which is simple in construction and eflicient in operation.

One of the more specific objects of the invention is to provide a governor which is exceedingly sensitive to variations in speed and which is more reliable in operation than the governors of theprior art. It has been customary in most governors of the prior art to utilize a great many bearing surfaces, the overheating of any one of Awhich necessitated shutting down the machine controlled by the governor. In the device of the present invention frictional engagement between relatively moving parts, is reduced to a minimum and means are provided whereby the governor may be quickly disconnected and the prime mover controlled manually in case of excessive overheating of the governor bearing surfaces.

Another vspecific object is to provide simple and efficient means for transmitting motion from the weights or ily balls of 'a centrifugal governor to the mechanism controlled thereby.

A further specific object is to provide a speed governorv especially adapted for di! rect connection to the main shaft of an energy-translating device. While the governor of the present invention is directly applicable to either horizontally or vertically disposed shafts, its application to the vertical main shafts of direct connected vertical hydro-electric energy-translating machines is especially desirable since such application permits reduction to a minimum of the overall height of the powerhouse. It is customary `in the construction of vertical hydro-electric units to mount the generators directly vupon the main shafts above the turbines. Traveling cranes located above the generators serve to handle heavy machine parts during installation and in case removal of such parts is necessary. The location of these cranes depends upon the length of shafting between the turbines and the generators, and the height of the building is determined by the location of the crane. It is therefore desirable to make the distance between the generators and theturbines as short as possible, in order to reduce to a minimum the overall height a-nd hence the cost of construction of the building.

. In existing designs of hydro-electric units,

the governors are ordinarily driven by means of horizontal jack shafts which are driven by bevel gearing associated directly with the main shafts of the units. -In order to permit inspection of this gearing and to eliminate danger of injury by contact with the revolving jack shafts, it is neces- Asary lto allow a considerable space above the-floor of the turbine pit and below the horizontal Ijack shafts. The allowance of this space necessitates lengthening the main shafts and also in most cases necessitates making the supports for` the generators considerably larger and heavier than would otherwise be necessary. By utilizing the present invention, the horizontal jack shafts and connecting gearing are eliminated, the governors being mounted directly upon the main shafts, thereby permitting utilization of relatively short main shafts, eliminating danger of injury during inspection, and reducing to a minimum. the overall height of the units and of the power house.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a governor which may be direct connected to horizontal or vertical shafts whichduring normal operation reciprocate or float a slight amount. The invention contemplates the provision of means whereby the motion of the governor weights is alone transmitted to the device controlled shaft thereof between the turbine and genthe governor collar relative to the main shaft, is transmitted to the mechanism controlled by the governor.

A clear conception of several embodiments of the invention may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this 1. specification, in which like reference characters designate the same .or similar parts-.in the various views.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic part sectional view of a hydro-electric installation having a governor mounted directly upon the main erator.

, Fig. 2 is an enlarged part sectionalfront elevation of a governor mounted directly upon the mainvertical shaft of an energy translating device. v

Fig. 3 is an enlarged part sectional side elevation ofthe vernor disclosed in Fig. 2, the section bemg taken along the line III-III of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged front elevation of al ernor motion-transmitting mechanism.

The hydro-electric installation to which the governor is disclosed as applied in Fig. 1, comprises an energy-translating dev ice or Francis turbine 5 direct connected to the lower extremity of a vertical main shaft 1, the upper extremity' of which has directly connected thereto the rotor of an energyabsorbing device or electric generator 4. The Francis turbine 5 is operated in the usual manner by means of water under pressure admitted from the penstock through the spiral casing 11 past the circular series of adjustable guide vanes 10. The discharge of the turbine 5 communicates with the usual tailrace through a draft tube. 12. The guidevanes 10 are adjustable by means of a servo-motor 9 controlled by mechanism 7 which controls the flow of actuating fluid through pipes 8 to the servo-motor 9. The mechanism 7 as disclosed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is controlled by means of the speed governor through a bifurcated bell crank 17 pivot-1 ally mounted upon a stationary casing 19, and a motion-transmitting connection 6 -housed within a protecting casing or tube 18.

The speed governor, see Figs. 2 and 3,

collar fixed to the main shaft 1.

comprises a movable element or collar 3 surrounding but spaced slightly from the main shaft 1, and a pair of diametrically oppo site Weights 2 pivotally suspended from a Each of the weights 2 has an integral projection 19 extending inwardly from the upper end thereof and pivotally connected to the supporting ring on the main shaft 1. The weights 2 are connected with the movable element or collar 3 by means of links 14,

which links together With the weight pro-v jections19 constitute diametrically opposite toggle connections between the shaft 1 and the collar 3. The collar 3 is also connected to the main shaft 1 by means of diametrically opposite toggles consisting' of upper links 15 pivoted directly to the collar 3 and lower links 16 pivoted to the fixed shaft collar and pivotally connected to the links 15. -The links 14, 15, 16 and the weights 2 are of considerable width measured transversely of the shaft l, thus positively constraining the toggles to motion in planes perpendicular to their connecting pivots.

The floating collar 3 is provided with an annular recess 22 within which bearing shoes 20 carried by extremities of the bifurcations of the bell crank 17, are slidable. The re cess 22 may be provided withV suitable 111- bricant and the shoes 20 may be provided with antifriction bearing means, in order to reduce the friction to ,a minimum. The Weights 2 are connected to each other by springs 13 located one on each side of the shaft 1, and are prevented from moving'inwardly and outwardly beyond predetermined limiting positions, by means of stops 21 which engage abutment surfaces formed on the Weights. Excessive outward distortion of thesprings 13,.due to the action of centrifugal force thereon, is prevented by means of stops 23.

In the form of governor disclosed in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the general construction of the weights 2, toggles 14, 15, 16 and collar 3 is the same as that disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3. In this embodiment the main shaft 25 is arranged horizontally instead of vertically and is presumed to have a longitudinal reciprocating or floating movement which it is not desired to have transmitted to the devices controlled by the governor. The bifurcated lever 27 comprises two arms extending to points on opposite sides of the shaft 25 and carrying shoes 20 which engage the collar' 3. The arms of the lever 27 are rigidly joined by means of a pin 29 Which is pivotally'supported in a bearing at the mid-portion of one arm of a bifurcated bellcrank 28. One arm of the lever 27,l is provided with an integral projection extending longitudinally of the main shaft 25, the extreme end of which projection connected with one end of a lever 31, 'by means of a connection 30. The lever 31 has its midportion pivotally connected to the end of another arm of the bell-crank 28, by means of a plvot 32. The opposite end of the lever 31 'is connected with the controlling mechanism 7, by means of a connection 34. The bifurcated bell-crank 28 is pivotallymount- -ed upon a stationary support 33 and has its bifurcations connected with a collar 26 secured to the shaft 25, by means of pivots 35 'engaging slightly elongated openings in the bell-crank 28, these openings compensating for angular displacement of the bell-crank 28 relatively to the shaft 25 about the pivot su port 33.

n the form of governor disclosed in Fig. 7, the general construction of the weights 2,

toggles 14, 15, 16 and collar 3 is again the `two arms extending to points on opposite sides of the shaft "25 and carrying shoes 2O which engage the collar 3. r1`he arms of the lever 37 are rigidly joined by means of a pin 39 which is pivotally supported in a bearing at the mid-portionof a bifurcated lever 38. One arm ofthe lever 37 is provided with a projection the end of which is connected with the controlling mechanism 7, by means of a connection 44. The bifurcated lever 38 is pivotally mounted upon a stationary support 43, and has its bifurcations connected with a collar 26 secured to the shaft 25, by means of pivots 4 5 engaging slightly elongated openings in the lever 38, `these openings compensating for angular displacement of the lever 38 relatively to the shaft 25 about the pivot support 43.

The means for transmitting thev governor motion from the bell-crank 17 to the controlling mechanism 7, disclosed in Fig. 8, providesfor greater overhead clearance in the turbine pit, than -is provided in the arrangement shown in Fig. l, and by the devices of `the prior art. -The motion transmitting mechanism of Fig. 8 comprises la pair of connections 60, 61 and an idler bell-crank 62 pivotally mounted upon a bracket secured to the frame of the generator 4. With this arrangement of connections and levers, maximum headroom is provided above the inspection walk of the turbine pit.

During -normal operation of vthe device f disclosed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the main shaft .1 is rotated by the turbine 5, and the weights i 2 of the governor are moved outwardly by centrifugal force, against the tension of the helical springs 13. This outward movement of the weights 2-causes the piv'otal connections between .tlle projections 19 of the weights 2 and the links 14 to move upwardly, thereby causing the links 14 to move longitudinally of the shaft l, and to raise the floating collar 3. During this movement of the weights 2, links 14 and collar 3, the toggles formed by the links 15, 16 are straightened and prevent movement o-f the collar 3 transversely of the shaft 1. Asthe speed of the shaft l varies, the weights 2 move toward and away from the shaft 1 causing the collar 3 to assume various positions along the shaft. The motion of the collar 3 is transmitted through the shoes 20, bifurcated bell-crank 17 and connection 6 to the servo-motor controlling mechanism 7, thereby causing variations in the position of the servo-motor and of the guide vanes 10, and regulating the speed of they turbine 5.

With the device disclosed in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, if the shaft 25 is not moving longitudinally, motion of the collar 3 is transmitted to the bifurcated bell-crank V27, causing this bell-crank to swing about the axis of th'e pin 29. This swinging, motion of the crank 27 is transmitted through the connection 3() to the lever 31 which is simultaneously swung about the pivot 32 causing the connection 34 to move and to actuate the controlling mechanisln 7. 1f the shaft 25 moves longitudinally, .such motion is transmitted to the bifurcated bell-crank 28 through the collar 26 and pins 35, causing the bell-crank 28 to swing about the stationary pivot support 33.v As the bell-crank 28 swings about the support 33, the pivots 29, 32 are-moved distances proportional to the respective distances between the axes of these pivots and the axis of the pivot onthe support 33. The motion of the shaft 25 which moves the bell-crank 28, is also transmitted through the governor to the bell-crank 27, connection 30 and lever 31, but due to the construction and mounting of these elements, the motion of the shaft 25 is entirely compensated for and does not affect the connection 34.

In the embodiment disclosed in Fig. 7, if the shaft 25 is not moving longitudinally, motion of the collar 3 is transmitted through the bifurcated lever 37 directly to the con-- neotion 44. I f the shaft 25 moves longitudinally, such motion is transmitted to the lever 38 through the collar 26 and pins 45, causing the lever 38 to swing about the stationary pivot support 43. As the lever 38 swings about the support 43, the pivot 39 is moved a distance proportional to the distance from its axis to the axis of swing of the lever 38. The motion of 'the shaft 25 which moves the lever 38, is also transmitted through the governor to the lever 37, but due to the movement of the pivot pin 39 simultaneously with the movement of the ends of the lever 37 adjacent the shaft 25, and

f the location of the opposite end ofthe lever It will be noted that the toggles consisting l of the links 15, 16 are movable in a plane at right angles to the plane of movement .of

the toggles consisting of the links 14 and shaft l, thereby always insuring that the collar 3 will remain out of engagement' with the shaft 1 and thereby eliminating friction losses. Thetoggle links 14, 15, 16 constitute the sole'means for. supporting and guiding the collar 3, thereby reducing the friction to a vminimum and producing, a governor of maximum sensitiveness. The toggles, so far as their eiiect is concerned, may be regarded eitheras the links 14 constrained ,at one end by any structure such as the weight projections 19, to move the .collar 3 longitudinally of the shaft 1, or theymayvbe consideredjas comprising the weight projections 19 coacting in any manner with the collar 3 to move the same along the shaft 1.- In the construction disclosed, the e-iiects of the two links constituting each toggle, are added. Inl any case, the toggles whether they be of the single or of the double link type, should constitute the sole means for supporting and guiding the collar 3 in order to reduce to a minimum the friction. While the, toggles are disclosed as arranged in diametrically opposite pairs, this arrangement being preferred for the purpose of balancing the elements, it will be .-apparent that only two toggles movable in .different planes are essential in order to produce the desired rectilinear motion.

By mounting the'governor directly upon the main turbine shaft, the use of a special governor supporting shaft is avoided" and the .speed changes are transmitted directly from the main shaft to the governor flyballs, thereb reducing friction losses to a minimum. he devices disclosed in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 provide simple and', efficient means for compensating for longitudinal motion of the main shaft. By arran ing the governor vertically as disclosed in s.

- 1, 2, 3 and 8, the elements may be readily balanced, thereby also enhancing the sensitivenessI of the device. The elimination of rotating motion transmitting mechanism eliminates danger of injury to operators and v l permits substantial reduction in power house height.

If for'any reason it is desired to 'disconneet the governor and to control the servomotor 9 manually, this may 'be done by swinging the'bell-crank 17 'away lfrom the floating collar 3, thereby breaking the con nection between the governor and the motion-transmitting mechanism. The guide vanes 10 may then be regulated manually in the usual manner by means of controlling ytuting the sole means for lvalvessuch as ordinarily provided for manual control of the servo-motor 9.

It should*4 be understood that it is not sired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction herein shown and d escribed, for obvious modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Itis claimed and desired to secure' by Letv ters Patent:

1. Iny a governor, a support-rotatable about an axis, an element spaced from said support and movable longitudinally of said axis, a plurality of toggles connecting said support and said element, and means for actuating at least one of saidtoggles, said toggles constituting the sole means for guiding said element.

2. In a governor, a support rotatable about an axis, an element movable longitudinally of said axis, a plurality of toggles connecting said support and said element, and means for actuating at least one of said toggles, said toggles constituting means for Isupporting said element.

3. In av governor, a. support rotatable about an axis, an element movable longitudinally of said axis, a plurality of toggles `connecting said support and said element,

toggles constituting the sole means for guidf the sole ing said element, and a weight for attuating at least one of said toggles.

5. In a governor, a shaft rotatable about an axis, a collar spaced from and surround# ing said shaft,'a plurality of toggles connecting said shaft and Said collar,. and a weight for actuating at least one of said toggles whereby vsaid collar is moved longitudinally off said axis. Y

6. In a governor, a shaft rotatable about. j

anl axis, a collar surrounding said shaft and movable longitudinally of said axis, a plurality of toggles connecting said shaft and said collar and a .weight for actuating atf least one'o said toggles, said toggles consti-v porting saidcollar.

7. In a governor, ashaft rotatable :about anaxis, a collar spaced from said shaft and movable longitudinally of said axis, a pair oftoggles connecting said shaft and said guiding and sup- A Y collar, each of said toggles being movable only' in a plane intersecting the plane of movement of the other and said axis coinciding with the line of intersection of said planes, and a weight for actuating at least one of said toggles.

8. In a governor, a shaft rotatable about 'an axis, a collar'spaced from said shaft and llnetrically opposite pairs of toggles connecting said shaft and saidcollar, one pair of said toggles being movable in a plane at right angles to the plane of movement of the other and said axis coinciding with the line of intersection of said planes, and a pair of diametrically opposite weights for actuating one pair of said toggles.

10. In a governor, a shaft, a collar surrounding said shaft, and a plurality of toggles for moving said collar longitudinally of said shaft, said toggles constituting the sole means for supporting and moving said collar. Y

11. In a governor, a shaft rotatable about an axis, a weight, a collar movable longitudinally of said axis, a connection between said weight and said shaft, a link connecting said weight and said collar, and links con- .necting said shaft and said collar, said links constituting the sole means of support for said collar.

12. In a governor, a shaft rotatable about an axis, a weight, a collar surrounding and spaced from said shaft, said collar being movable longitudinally of said axis, a connection between said weight and said shaft, a link pivotally connected with said weight and said collar, and a pair of pivotally connected links connecting said shaft and said collar.

13. In a governor for an energy-translating device, the combination with the main shaft of said device, of a collar surrounding and spaced from said shaft, a weight supported from said shaft,y and means. for communicating motion from said weight4 to said collar.

14. In a governor for an energy-translating device, the combination with the main shaft of said device, of a collar surrounding and spaced from said shaft, a weight supported from said shaft, means connecting said weight and said collar, and' means connecting said shaft and said collar,

said connecting means'constituting the sole v means for collar. Y

15. In a governor for an energy-.translating device having a vertical main shaft, the combination of a collar spaced from and surrounding said shaft, a weight pivotally supported from said shaft, a link connecting said weight and said collar, and a pair of pivoted links connecting said shaft and said collar, said links constituting the sole means of guiding and supporting said collar.

16. In a governor, a shaft rotatable about an axis, a weight, a collar movable longitudinally of said axis, a connection between said weight and said shaft, a link connecting said weight and said collar, and links connecting said shaft and said collar, said links having a' pairof bearing points spaced apart to permt motion of said links in only one plana 17. In a governor, a shaft movable longitudinally of its axis, a governingdevice supguiding land supporting said 'ported directly by said shaft, means for transmitting motion from said governor,

and means for preventing longitudinal movement of said shaft from affecting the governor motion.

18. In combination, an energy-translating device, a speed governor mounted upon the main shaft of said device, means'for controlling the speed of said device, means for transmitting motion from said governor to said controlling means, and means for 'compensating for axial movement of the main shaft of said device whereby 'such axial movement will not aectsaid controlling means.

419. Inl combination, a shaft having axial play, a centrifugal governor mounted upon said shaft, said governor comprising a collar surrounding and having motion axially of said shaft, means controlling the energy delivered to said shaft, and means for transmitting to said controlling means only the relative axial motionof said collar and said shaft.

20. In combination, an axially reciprocable shaft, a collar surrounding said shaft and movable longitudinally thereof, and means for transmitting from said collar only relative axial motion of said collar and said shaft.

21. In a governor, a rotary shaft, a collar movable longitudinally of said shaft, a; plurality of toggles each comprising a pair of connected members connecting said collar and said shaft, and a plurality of bearings between each two of said connected parts namely, said shaft, said collar and sai toggle members. n.

22. In a governor, a rotary shaft, a collar movable longitudinally of said shaft, a plurality of toggles each comprising a pair of lll lll

connected links connecting said collar and said shaft, and a plurality of spaced coaxial bearings between each two of said connected parts, namely, said shaft, said collar and said toggle links.

23. In a governor, a shaft rotatable about an axis, a collar movable longitudinally of said shaft, a plurality of toggles connecting Y said shaft and said collar, each toggle comprising two directly pivotally connected 10 links movable only in planes parallelto or coincident with said axis, and the planes of movement of at least one toggle intersecting planes of movement of another, and Weights for moving said toggles. 15

In testimony whereof the signature of the inventor is aixed hereto.

WILLIAM MONROE WHITE. 

